After the huge success on tour in the UK with the State Academy Svetlanov Orchestra in October (The Rachmaninov Second Symphony was a grand, sweeping account nonetheless, one that showcased the ensemble’s velvety strings and piquant wind and brass. Its slow movement was tender in its restraint, its finale delivered as great swelling waves of music crashing over the enthusiastic audience... scrive the Scotsman), on November 8th Valentin Uryupin makes his debut at the LAC with the Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana di Lugano.

A busy October saw Stanislav Kochanovsky returning on the podium of the National Orchestra of Belgium, the Dublin RTE and the Moscow National Philharmonic.

Here are some comments from the international press:

RTE Dublin “From the opening notes, Kochanovsky elicited a sharp, crisp tone from the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra while keeping the rhythm taut. With blaring brass and fun cross rhythms, Kochanovsky made this a dramatic, lively rendition of this delightful overture…”

“The 12 repetitions of the “War theme” were masterfully graded by Kochanovsky starting with an innocent melody on the flute and finishing with the brass blazing forth in all their glory, a veritable cry of humanity against the horrors of war. The pizzicato at the end was nothing short of brilliant, resonating in the silence that followed.”...read more

Great enthusiasm for the opening concert of the Prague Symphony Orchestra season which saw John Axelrod celebrate Leonard Bernstein's Anniversary with the Chichester Psalms alongside Mahler's 4th Symphony: "John Axelrod showed a deep understanding of the composing world of both: in Mahler's Fourth Symphony he brought out the sweet and bizarre aspects, the intensity and unpredictability of the contrasts were never exaggerated, maintaining the pastoral tone; he then made Bernstein's Chichester Psalms distinctive in their deep emotion and external enchantment" writes Petr Veber on KlasikaPlus.cz